John johnson



. gold therein.

the light practicable, I paint the interior-over which the workman stepsinto the inner chamber,

@nitch tests ggstcnt ifths.

JOHN Johnson, on sAoo; MAINE.) Letters Patent No. 60,898, dated Jannary1, 186?.

IMPROVED PROGEdS FOE QBTAlIiHlG TEE PBEGIQUS METALSFROM BEDS OPENERS.

on iltbfllt ninth in it these-Ethics haunt mm mating emit cf its state.

TO- ALL WHOM IT MAY- co'nonsn: 7

Be it known thatI, JOHN JOHNSON, of Saco, countyof Yorl :,Stnte of-Maineimproved Process for Obtainin the Precious Metals from the Bedsfollowing is a. full and exact description thereof.

The nature of my invention consists in c and arranging it as herein setforth, for the p have inventedn new and of Rivers; and I do herebydeclare that the oinhining with a. barge or boat a properly constructeddiving bcll, urpose of getting down to the bed of the river end ofobtaining the To enable others to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation. I construct a,flnt-boat, about eighteen feet Wide and sixty feet in length, deckedover and made wnt'er tighL; Near the centre of its width and length, Imake a circuln bell of suitable diameter and length, when properlysuspended, may pass freely through it vertically without touching thesides of the aperture of the barge. Thcdiving-bell I make of suitablesheet iron, and rivet it so that its sides and top shall be air andwater-tight. In its construction I use suitable braces and angle iron torender it stiif and firm enough for the use. contemplated. In thisinstance, I make this bell about ten fcct diameter and about nine feethigh. On the top or crown or deck ofthis hell or holder, I construct a.doublechamber, the inner chamber being directly connected with the bell,and the outer chamber with the inner oneby suitshle doors or passages.Each of these doors has stop-cocks, and so fixed as to be within thecontrol of an operator. At suitable localities I insert glass, toctfor'd light from withontto'the interior; and, to obtain all i withseveral coats'of white paint. The bell being constriictedi and placedwithin the space in the barge, and properly suspended and balanced, Iconnect therewith eir-snpply pipes, and place a suitable air-pump on thebarge,- so thct, at pleasure, at snfiicient supply of cirrus y beforced. into the bell found requisite for the number of men to beemployed therein, this air being rendered of the rcqnisite temperaturein its passage from the pump-to the bell, by being suitably warmed in achamber adapted for the purpose. The bell being suspended from on deck,and properly balanced to prevent it being moved from its verticalposition, I place stay chains to the bell, and fasten the other endsinto suitable eye-bolts near thcendsoi" the barge on the underneathsurface, leaving just sniiicient slackness of chain that the bell mayrest, on or be neerthe bottom of the river without bei opening throughthe barge, the ofiice of these chains being to hold the time keep it inposition in a current in-the'river. Before being lowered for work thebar anchored, that no accident happen to those within the bell. Insideof the bell, and ne :1, semicircular shield, with 'suitztble appliancesfoisliding it up-or'down. The object of this shieldis to serve and aidto deflect the current from coming under the bell, at the same time todeflect it in such a manner as to secure near still water beneath thebell n5 is practicable. The purpose of the double chsmbeiis toserve asa. means of ingress and egress. When a, person wishcs'to enter the bell,the doors of. the do'slble chamber are closed mane stop-cocks setproperly; he then steps from the ba'rgeupon the deck of the holder orbell,.(the air-pump having been previously set going. spon puts a.tension upon the'interion) He opens theproper-yzilve; this relieves, thedoor' of the outer compartment, end itis now opened inward end thepnrty' steps in; anchhn closing the door' after-him and making the valveair-tight, he next opens the valve of the inner door. The sifescnpingfrom the inner to the onter chnmbel. soon'equslizes the tension, thusenabling the inner door to be opened, on opening and from thence intothe belhand descends for Work. If" nnother follow, he that wentforwsrdmust' leave the conditions in the order he found them, and thelike in pess-5 ing out. Thus, by this arrangement, any person with-in prwithout the bell can come or go at pleasure, without inconvenience.

go is safely and'securely at its lower edge, I have i. As it iscontemplated by the use of this apparatus to obtain the free gold on ornos 1' the bed of the river, 1 further, when found necessary, increasethe ligh t for close inspection by kidding lamps, portable or otherwise.In some cases I concentrate it by lenses or reflectors, that a. closerscrutiny may be had of the bed of the river 'than'if not thus used. Whenthis bell is. lowered. -and the working party beneath it, with suchappliances as are used. for obtaining gold from suriferoue sashdsnndgrnve'ls, and they there use the tom, or other gold concentrating andsaving apparatus in water but a few inches in depth, they will beenablcd to effectually wash nnd r aperture of about twelve feet indiameter, so-tihet a ng much from a vertical position, and yet free andclear from the circular bell as near vertical as can be, at the sometreat gold-bearing sands and gravels. To further aid, I fix on theinside of the bell one or more rotating pumps, so that the requiredamount of water may rendilybe obtained. To this pump, hose-pipes withsuitable nozzles are attached for the purpose of snpplying water forwashing andconcentrating the sands, and elsofor the purposeof forcingaway the loose sand, that prospecting may be carried on within the hellon or near the bed of the river. It is contemplated that those withinthe bell control its movements, having within their reach the requisitewarping apperetus to enable themto move this bell and flat-boattransversely across the river, the

barge or flat-boat having been, previous .to operatingenchored and heldin the stream or river by anchor and chain of size 'andlength requiredfor the work. Speaking-tubes or other appliances may be employedfogcommunieeting to those below or on the barge, as found best in actualpractical working. A. code of signals, previously agreed upon, may beemployed, that the wishes of either party to the other be fullycomprehended and acted upon; such as, To the right or left, fWarp up orletdown stream, Pump in more or less air, Increase or diminish itstemperature, Elevate or depress the bell, &c., lite. This system by belland barge I will also enable me to explore insedvance of employing mydredging system, for which I have applied for Letters Patent.- p

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Thesystemherein aetforth for obtaining gold from the beds of rivers,substantially as specified. I claim the process bythe means employed forthe purpose intended, substantially as specified.

' JOHN JOHNSON.

Witnesses 1 FRANK O, Jennson, Moses Emmy.

